You’re charged with writing a gold rush story. Write as whichever person you’d like. This is a SUBJECTIVE ASSIGNMENT; it is YOUR STORY, have fun with it. Be mindful of the following:
Where is your character from? Place of origin, port of exit from the continental US, etc...
Route-which route did your character take to Alaska/Yukon? (See your lecture notes, etc.) Why was this route chosen? Cost? Distance to gold fields? Opportunity? Conditions? Time involved to get to gold fields?
Detail your character’s journey. What were the travel conditions like coming to Alaska/Yukon? What was your port of entry to Alaska/Yukon (Wrangell/Telegraph Creek [Stikine Route], Dawson, Dyea, Skagway, Valdez)? What were the conditions like at the port (costs, interesting characters, unexpected events, disasters, etc..)?
Use mining/gold rush terms: dredge, sluice box, stampede, prospector, stern wheel paddle-boat, placer mine, shaft, lode mine, pay streak, gold pan, pick & shovel, pay dirt, etc. (See links and the list of required items for more ideas.)
Conclusion: How does your story end? Is your character dead or alive? Rich or poor? Does s/he stay in Alaska/Yukon or make it home?
➢ The above bullets are EXAMPLES of how to frame your story and to help get you started. You don’t have to answer/respond to all the suggestions.
➢ Follow guidelines though; include the context of your character’s background, port of exit, port of entry, journey, and conclusion. Use as many mining terms as possible!
➢ You WILL have to research on YOUR OWN TIME!! Use the links below and find others on the web!
Your story should be 2-3 pages TYPED, 12 POINT FONT, single or 1.5 space. Include a TITLE centered on your paper and pictures (but size them appropriately).
- Where is your character from? Place of origin, port of exit from the continental US, etc...
- Route-which route did your character take to Alaska/Yukon? (See your lecture notes, etc.) Why was this route chosen? Cost? Distance to gold fields? Opportunity? Conditions? Time involved to get to gold fields?
- Detail your character’s journey. What were the travel conditions like coming to Alaska/Yukon? What was your port of entry to Alaska/Yukon (Wrangell/Telegraph Creek [Stikine Route], Dawson, Dyea, Skagway, Valdez)? What were the conditions like at the port (costs, interesting characters, unexpected events, disasters, etc..)?
- Use mining/gold rush terms: dredge, sluice box, stampede, prospector, stern wheel paddle-boat, placer mine, shaft, lode mine, pay streak, gold pan, pick & shovel, pay dirt, etc. (See links and the list of required items for more ideas.)
Conclusion: How does your story end? Is your character dead or alive? Rich or poor? Does s/he stay in Alaska/Yukon or make it home?➢ The above bullets are EXAMPLES of how to frame your story and to help get you started. You don’t have to answer/respond to all the suggestions.
➢ Follow guidelines though; include the context of your character’s background, port of exit, port of entry, journey, and conclusion. Use as many mining terms as possible!
➢ You WILL have to research on YOUR OWN TIME!! Use the links below and find others on the web!
Your story should be 2-3 pages TYPED, 12 POINT FONT, single or 1.5 space. Include a TITLE centered on your paper and pictures (but size them appropriately).
Links you should explore include, but are not limited to, the following:
http://www.virtualmuseum.ca/Exhibitions/Klondike/English/main.html Virtual Museum of the Klondike Gold Rush
http://www.lib.washington.edu/specialcoll/exhibits/klondike/ U of Washington, great resource
http://www.questconnect.org/ak_klondike.htm Picts, info on some mining equipment, etc...
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Klondike_Gold_Rush Use the EXTERNAL LINKS!!!1
http://www.thecanadianencyclopedia.com/index.cfm?PgNm=TCE&Params=A1ARTA0004349 Name says it all, the Canadian Encylopedia; picts + info
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/gold/ Link to the pbs series related to Gold Fever
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/gold/gold2.html Excellent site! Women, Nome, routes, Yukon rapids, Lake Bennett, etc. Must See!
http://www.uaf.edu/museum/exhibits/tog/opportunity.html Women of the gold rush, Nome
http://sled.alaska.edu/ Must See! Search Klondike gold rush, Nome gold rush, Fairbanks gold rush
http://www.postalmuseum.si.edu/gold/nome.html Gold Rush in Nome, Alaska
http://www.library.state.ak.us/goldrush/ Alaska's Gold Rush
http://www.arcticwebsite.com/goldrushlist.html Klondike Gold Rush
This information has been adapted from Mr. Christopherson's Gold Rush Story assignment. (11-14-2007)